Hagerstown City Council briefs

City approves $134,000 worth of contracts for police department

HAGERSTOWN -- The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday approved $134,000 worth of contracts for the city's police department.

The contracts were:

o $85,806 to Pelican Mobile of Hanover, Md. -- through a state contract -- for 21 Panasonic Toughbook semi-rugged laptop computers, with accessories and warranties, to use in police cruisers.

o $24,762 to McEnroe Voice & Data of Hunt Valley, Md., for cameras and equipment to record interviews with people suspected of committing crimes. The equipment is fully funded through a state grant, according to a memo explaining the purchase.

o $10,556 to SPEX Forensics of Edison, N.J., for an alternate light source for the Western Maryland Regional Crime Lab to examine "biological evidence, bruise/bite mark evidence, fingerprint evidence, and various types of trace evidence," according to a memo explaining the purchase. SPEX Forensics manufactures the equipment. The cost also is funded through a state grant. Evident Crime Scene Products of Union Hall, Va., submitted a bid of $10,910.

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o $13,169.80 to Nikon Instruments of Linthicum, Md., for a compound microscope with stereoscope and digital capture system. The equipment will let the Western Maryland Regional Crime Lab "screen biological evidence and help determine what items of evidence are suitable for DNA analysis," a memo says. A state grant will cover $12,965, and the city's general fund will cover the rest.

City working with county to repair three bridges on Burhans Boulevard

HAGERSTOWN -- The city and Washington County are planning to work together to repair three bridges on Burhans Boulevard.

The county would be a conduit for the city to get federal funding.

Federal money would pay 80 percent of the costs, and the city would pay the remaining 20 percent.

All three bridges -- two on South Burhans Boulevard and one on North Burhans Boulevard -- cross Norfolk Southern Railroad property.

The city council approved a memorandum of understanding with the county Tuesday.

City eliminates free use of parking decks on weekends, evening, and holidays

HAGERSTOWN -- The city has eliminated the free use of its parking decks on weekends, evenings and holidays.

The city council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new $1 fee for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, plus weekdays from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Parking at the North Potomac Street deck and the Arts and Entertainment deck had been free during those times.

The new fees will go into effect Jan. 4.

Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II said he's heard from local businesses opposed to the charges and he agrees with them.